Music at St. Thomas
St. Thomas' choir, led by organist and choirmaster Schéry Collins, participates in the morning worship service from September through May.
Additionally, throughout the year several choir members also enhance the service as cantors, chanting the week's psalm with the congregation responding in unison. Although small in number, the choir provides a reverent and important aspect to Sunday mornings and other important liturgical times of the year.
The choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 7:30.
In 1846 St. Thomas became home to the first pipe organ west of the Blue Ridge, brought over the mountains by ox cart. Sadly, this was lost in the 1924 fire.
It was not until 1980 that another pipe organ was built by Randall Dyer of Jefferson City, Tennessee. A baroque organ of twelve ranks, the pipes are located in the rear of the nave.
Expansion and renovation of the organ was undertaken in 1996 with work being completed in 1998. A few ranks were added in the existing, nave organ, and a new chamber was constructed in the choir area. A new three manual console was built, allowing the nave or chancel organs to be playable separately, or together. The many new ranks have a more romantic flavor, complementing the baroque voicing of the original instrument. It is a very versatile instrument for worship or recital.
"God gave us music that we might pray without words," said one wise person.
Therefore, in addition to the choir, guest artists also periodically participate in the worship service. Drawing from local colleges, the parish, and community youth, St. Thomas is fortunate to offer the congregation a variety of instrumentation from strings to harpsichord to woodwinds and brass.